Proportionality and justification in imposing professional penalties

The disciplinary sanctions contemplated under the Advocates Act—including heavy monetary fines and the conditional suspension of a legal practitioner’s license—must be measured, rational, and proportionate to the alleged misconduct. Imposing a severe monetary penalty coupled with a default clause of license suspension represents an extreme exercise of statutory power that directly threatens an advocate’s livelihood and constitutional right to pursue a profession under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India. Such drastic measures must be reserved for proven cases of grave moral turpitude or severe professional malpractice and cannot be sustained where the grievance arose from an isolated cost-deposit misunderstanding that was completely rectified and forgiven by the client. (Monty Goyal Vs Navrang Singh | 2026 INSC 94).